JAMMU, June 1: Over 37,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas in the last four days even as the fifth batch of 2,168 devotees left for their journey today.

Of these, 35,627 pilgrims paid obeisance of the holy ice-lingam at the cave shrine till last evening, while over 1,600 had darshan this morning.

Besides, 1044 pilgrims, flew in choppers to the cave shrine.

Meanwhile, a convoy of 80 vehicles carrying 2,168 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at around 5.35 AM for twin base camps of Pahalagam and Baltal Kashmir, police said here today.

The batch included 1,525 men, 460 women and 35 children, apart from 148 priests, they said. With today's batch, a total of 9,974 pilgrims have left Jammu base camp for Amarnath so far. Besides, a fresh batch of 6,381 pilgrims left Baltal camp for Amarnath today.

SRINAGAR, June 1: The Army today said it is not involved in the first killing of a youth that took place in the Markandal-Sumbal village in the wee hours of Sunday while in the second incident the troops fired in self defence.
“Based on specific intelligence about the presence of militants 13 RR Army along with SOG at 3.15 am Sunday went to Markundal area. When Army and SOG reached there, a fire was heard and then we saw we found a youth was lying on the ground. I cannot say who did it but